Daily Reading: July 4

(from www.christianaid.org.uk)

Help my unbelief

Something to read

Why could we not cast it out? He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer'.

- Mark 9: 28-29.

Something to think about

The disciples fail to cast out an evil spirit. How like the church, trying our best, but somehow lacking power. Jesus returns, and is confronted with the mayhem.

The boy’s father says, ‘if you can do anything…’ and Jesus says ‘everything is possible for those who believe.’

The father believes, and at the same time asks Jesus to help his unbelief.

The disciples thought they believed, but their belief in their power to cast out this spirit didn't extend to committing themselves to prayer.

The good news is that even when we fall short, when others think it's all over and there's no more hope, Jesus is able to bring new life.

Something to do

How can you commit to prayer, to believing that Jesus changes real lives today?

What will it look like to actually believe God wants to remove power which destroy people?

What will it cost you?

How can you change the spirits at work in your own life and community today?

Something to pray

God, I believe; help my unbelief…

Today’s contributor is the Rev Cheryl Meban, Presbyterian chaplain to Ulster University, with a care for justice, human rights and international economic transformation.